Rynda wins high school 600 meters in 1:30.69

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Aurora Rynda smiled warmly exiting the track Saturday at The Armory.

The 12th-grader from Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, had just run a North American-leading 1:30.69 in the 600 meters at the Dr. Sander Invitational Armory Challenge, running away from a strong field that included Alahna Sabbakhan of St. John's College D.C. (second, 1:31.89) and Paris Peoples of Benjamin Cardozo NY (third, 1:33.52).

"The Armory has a reputation of being one of the fastest tracks in the world," said Rynda, who was running at the Armory for the first time. "I've always wanted a chance to compete here."

In her first crack at the Armory's oval, Rynda made it look easy. A converted ski-racer who has developed into one of Canada's top middle distance runners, she left an indelible impression on her New York trip.

"They kind of forget about us up there," Rynda said.

After trailing Peoples through the first 350 meters, Rynda swept past her at the 400 mark (60.03), then held off Sabbakhan for the win.

Rynda broke out on the track last year, when she ran 2:05 for 800 meters. Then she ran 2:06 at the Commonwealth Youth Games in July against top English and Australian athletes.

"She got serious about it two and a half years ago," said Jerry Rynda, Aurora's father. "When she started, she used to ski-race (also). She started running with the University of Toronto Track Club."

According to Terry Radchenko, who coaches track and field at the University of Toronto and with the University of Toronto Track Club, Rynda has flourished with the club.

"She's always been very quick," said Radchenko, noting Rynda's 56-second 400 meter speed. "She's had a lot of support running against top athletes (with the club)."

Running with the club has put Rynda in the mix for some heavy duty training sessions alongside University of Toronto athletes like Gabriela Stafford, who has run 2:02 at 800 meters, Lucia Stafford, who ran a 4:31.66 mile Saturday at the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge and Lizzy Whelan, a 2:03 half-miler and University of North Carolina transfer.

"We have a very large junior program at the University of Toronto Track Club," Radchenko said. "With 200 kids. The top runners get to train with the varsity."

Rynda is targeting the U20 World Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland, in July. She's committed to the University of Michigan but still admits a soft spot for her city.

"I committed to Michigan," Rynda said. "It's kind of under the radar, but Toronto, well, it's home."